Neonatal mortality rate in China
China: Neonatal mortality rate was 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Neonatal mortality rate in China, 1989–2023
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in Deaths per 1000 live births.
Analysis
China recorded 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births for neonatal mortality rate in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and down 55.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, neonatal mortality rate in China peaked at 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1989 and was at its lowest, 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births, in 2023.
That places China 157th out of 199 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births | 1 |
| 1990s | 2.67 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.25 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.49 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.9211 Deaths per 1000 live births | 2.14 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5759 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.3756 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.8368 Deaths per 1000 live births | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.3138 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births | 0.3477 Deaths per 1000 live births | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
- 154 Anguilla 0.301 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 155 Saudi Arabia 0.2965 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 156 Turks and Caicos Islands 0.2935 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 158 Switzerland 0.2823 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 159 Croatia 0.2805 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
- 160 France 0.2747 Deaths per 1000 live births compare
More health data for China
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 2,029 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 4,642 deaths (2100)
- Deaths in armed conflicts based on where they occurred 0 deaths (2026)
- Deaths in armed conflicts by region 0 deaths (2026)
- Age population, age 25, male, interpolated 8.74 million (2025)
- Age population, age 25, female, interpolated 7.51 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, male, interpolated 8.70 million (2025)
- Age population, age 24, female, interpolated 7.46 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, male, interpolated 8.44 million (2025)
- Age population, age 23, female, interpolated 7.21 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is neonatal mortality rate in China?
- Neonatal mortality rate in China was 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest neonatal mortality rate recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.97 Deaths per 1000 live births in 1989.
- What is the lowest neonatal mortality rate recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2826 Deaths per 1000 live births in 2023.
- How does China rank for neonatal mortality rate?
- China ranks 157th out of 199 countries with data for 2023.
- Is neonatal mortality rate rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 55.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Neonatal mortality rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The share of newborns who die before reaching 28 days of age.